Life Dances On was founded by Sue Ellen Collins.  After her second diagnosis of breast cancer, she had a double mastectomy with an abdominal tram flap reconstruction.  An avid dancer, she was dismayed at the toll the surgery took on her strength, flexibility and balance.  With her husband Mark’s support and assistance, she worked her way back to the dancing they both loved.  During this time they realized that, while there were a number of therapies available for the cancer survivor, there was very little most husbands could do to assist in the wife’s recovery.  Life Dances On was born to give couples a chance to reconnect after the shock and pain of the cancer diagnosis and treatment.

 "You can be depressed or you can dance - You can't do both." - Jackie Walls, dance instructor/dance school owner in Atlanta.

Dance had been a hobby of hers for several years, but it became a critical component of her rehabilitation in February of 2006.  Her goal was to perform before an audience before the year's end, and through long hours of physical therapy and personal training she achieved that goal.

"In order to continue dancing while I was physically fragile, my dance instructors and I had to modify the traditional lead and follow techniques of ballroom dancing.  I hope to share the love of dance with other survivors, to give couples a hobby they can share in a supportive and understanding environment."